... About Birthdays - Look Who Turned 64!

In my post “... About My Grandmother - Part 1” I wrote “…because I was given a second chance at life, so to speak, I decided I would really celebrate my birthdays.”  My last birthday was no exception.  I turned 64 on December 18, 2014.  On a rotating schedule with other caregivers for my mother,  one of my days was on my birthday.  Since Mother had a doctor’s appointment late in the afternoon and since my father is now in a personal care home, I decided I would have lunch on my birthday with my father at the home.   The home has a beautiful dining room that can be reserved for private meals for the residents.  I reserved the room and invited my mother and her pastor, Marvin Mosley and his family to join Daddy and I for lunch.   I invited Pastor Mosley because, outside of family members, he has visited my father in the home more often than anyone else.  Much to my disappointment, when I arrived at the home for lunch, I learned we would be eating lunch in the activities room instead of the dining room.   Despite my disappointment, we enjoyed a very delicious lunch.  The Mosley’s have three young children and to help out, I held the baby for a while.  With my youngest granddaughter now four years old, it was a real joy to be holding a baby again.  I chit-chatted with him a bit and cooed to him.  My reward was the big smiles he gave me. 

After about an hour, the residents of the home were finishing their lunch in their dining room and several came into the activities room.  So much for private dining!  Once again, I was a bit disappointed.  And then I had an idea.  The children were done eating and so I decided we would sing to the residents.  Michael, the oldest is three and so he and I sang some Christmas carols he knew.  Then we sang some “Sunday School” songs he knew. The residents loved hearing Michael sing and clapped for him.  The whole episode brought tears to my eyes.  It was so wonderful!  What had started out as a bit of a disappointment turned into pure joy!  I could not think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than to bring a bit of joy into the lives of others.

I actually celebrated my 64th birthday three times.  Since I am a twin and my twin sister now lives close to me, she and her fiancé treated my husband and I to a fantastic meal at a nearby  restaurant the Monday before our birthday.  And then Wilbur treated me to an awesome meal out a few days after my birthday.  “Thank you, Lord, for letting me live for more than 64 years and allowing me to experience all the wonderful things of life.  I am glad to be alive!”